Cotton harvester



Jan. 26, 1954 R. E. ELLIS ETAL COTTON HARVESTER Filed Feb. 10, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1954 E. ELLIS ETAL COTTON HARVESTER 4 shae'ts-shqet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 I WWJ IN V EN TORS Jan. 26, 1954 R. E.ELLIS ETAL COTTON HARVESTER Filed Feb. 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Jan. 26, 1954 OFFICE COTTON HARVESTER Riley E. Ellis, Grillin,and Joseph A. Ashkouti, Atlanta, Ga.

Application February 10, 1950, Serial No. 143,564

6 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to harvesters, but more particularlyto a type of harvester for removing and gatheri g cotton from the cottonplants.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision ofautomatic mechanism of this type powered by and attached to a motorizedvehicle mounted on the side of the vehicle to effect gathering of thecotton from the plants during forward travel of the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of cotton harvestingmechanism, such mechanism adapted to be detachably mounted on one orboth sides of a motorized vehicle, pow ered by the vehicle, andincluding a fioatingly supported gathering head mechanism for separatingthe cotton from a row or rows of cotton plants during forward travel ofthe vehicle Without damage or injury to the cotton.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a cottonharvesting unit, adapted to be removably attached to one or both sidesof a motorized vehicle and of a length not greater than the length ofthe vehicle, and including a floating head automatically adjustable withre spect to said unit, said head adapted to receive the plants of a rowand effect separation of the cotton from the plants during the forwardtravel of the head.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of acotton harvester unit including a head adapted to be removably mountedon the side of a motor vehicle, said head including a unit pair of airinduction cotton-gathering elements adapted to engage opposite sides ofcotton plants for effecting separation of the cotton therefrom duringforward travel of the head with respect to said plants, certain elementsof each pair being adjustable with respect to each other.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of aseed-cotton harvesting mechanism adapted to be removably attached to oneor both sides of a motorized vehicle, said mechanism including afloating head, said head including opposed cylinder units, therespective coacting cylinders of each unit having radially extendingblades of a length coincident with that of the cylinder adapted toeffect separation of the cotton from the bolls of cotton plants, and atthe same time producing induced air draft for directing the cottonbetween and from the cylinders on opposite sides of the plants duringtheir passage through said head, without aifecting the cotton orcrushing the seeds.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a cottonharvester unit including a vertically adjustable head, said unit beingpowered by and removably attached to the side of a standard tractor-likemotor vehicle with the head positioned rearwardly of the front wheels,not interfering with the clear vision of the operator, said headincluding a unit pair of air induction cotton-gathering elementsadapted, to engage opposite sides of a row of cotton plants forefiecting separation of the cotton from the bolls of the plants anddirecting it between the elements of each unit, guard means preventingentry of the plant stalks and limbs from passing with the cotton betweenthe elements, a plant guide shield adjacent each element unit providinga plant-receiving throat, said guide shields and element units beingadjustable to widen and l narrow said throat.

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of aseed cotton harvesting mechanism including a gathering head structurecomprising opposed rotor cylinder units, the respective oppositelyrotating coacting cylinders of each unit having radially extending vanesof a length coincident with that of the cylinder adapted to effectseparation of the cotton from the bolls of cotton plants without injuryto the cotton or seeds, the construction and arrangement of thecylinders and vanes and their operation being such as to efiect stronginduced air draft for assisting in the separation of the cotton from thebolls and directing its free passage between and from the cylinders onopposite sides of the plants without gripping action contact of thecotton by the vanes of said coacting cylinders, which would afiect itsflufiiness and cause damage thereto by crushing of the seeds.

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of acotton harvester unit including a floating and vertically adjustablehead and an air induction pneumatic cotton delivery means incommunication with said head, said entire unit being removably attachedto the side of a motor vehicle, said head including a unit pair of airinduction cotton-gathering elements, each pair adapted to engageopposite sides of cotton plants for eifecting separation of the cottontherefrom during the forward travel of the head with respect to saidplants, the cotton passing in opposite directions from the plantsbetween the coacting elements of each unit, said pneumatic deliverymeans cooperating with said air induction elements in the separationofthe cotton from the bolls of said plants and deliver- 3 ing it to acotton-receiving receptacle, certain elements of each of said pairsbeing adjustable with respect to each other.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision of acotton harvester mechanism including a head, said mechanism beingremovably attached at the side of a standard tractor or the like, saidhead including opposite pairs of coacting cylinders, the'cylinders ofeach pair rotating in opposite directions, each cylinder havingequi-spaced integral radially extending vanes coextensive with thelength of the cylinders constituting air induction means, the vanes ofthe coacting cylinders being so arranged with respect to each other andso engageable with the cotton plants that the cotton will be separatedfrom the bolls and passed between the coacting cylinders in a mannersuch that its fluffiness will be maintained and no damage to the cottonby crushing of the seeds effected, means for pneumatically deliveringthe cotton from the head to a cotton-receiving'means, and means foreffecting vertical adjustment of the head with respect to saidmechanism.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which likecharacters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures, of which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the cotton harvester deviceattached to a tractor.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the invention and the tractor in dotand dash lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the coacting cylinderspartly in section, and with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the invention detachedfrom a vehicle.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the top head plate with topconnections removed and showing the underlying plates in dot and dashlines.

Briefly the cotton picking or harvesting machines with which we arefamiliar have proven deficient in many respects such as having pickingfingers for pulling the cotton from the bolls which have provenunsatisfactory in many respects, such as leaving an appreciable quantityunpicked, clogging of the picking elements and embodying large andexpensive structures, other types employing rotatable coacting elementsfor effecting removal of the cotton from the plants and having means forgripping the cotton in course of the removal operation, causing crushingof the seeds and damage to the cotton, and it was to overcome these andother disadvantages that we provided our compact harvester unitattachable to one or both sides of a standard tractor or like motorizedvehicle for harvesting one or more rows of cotton plants, easilymountable and demountable in a few minutes with respect to a standardtractor, so that the tractor is available for normal usage. In view ofthe compactness of the device the head is necessarily positionedrearwardly of th front wheels so that the manner of reception of theplants is viewable by the operator, the head being floatingly supportedon the frame and manually adjustable with respect thereto in accordancewith the heighth of the plants and road travel, certain of the cylindersjustable with respect to each other, the plantengaging cylinder elementsbeing adapted to effect separation of the cotton from the plants,providing air induction directing the cotton through the respectiveunits without crushing of the seeds or damage to the cotton, said deviceembodying a cooperative air induction system for delivering the cottonfrom the device.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there isshown a tractor or like motorized vehicle of conventional constructionA, a seed cotton harvester unit B including a cotton-gathering headassembly C. The tractor is equipped with the usual drive or powertake-off pulley I, and a face plate 2 with a stub shaft 3 on which ismounted and splined or otherwise suitably secured drive sprocket 5secured to pulley l by bolts 5 or other suitable fastening means.

The cotton harvester unit B comprises the spaced longitudinallyextending main frame members 6 to which are secured the vertical angleiron supports 1 secured to said frame by bolts 8 or in any suitablemanner, the lower ends of which are connected by bolts 9 to the framesupporting bar ID, suitably carried by and secured to said tractor A.Where a tractor has no supporting arm ID at the position shown, channelbars ll may be bolted to or made extensions of frame members 6 and thevertical supports 1 may be located to tie into the tractor in whateververtical plane the tractor supporting bar 10 may be located as will bewell understood.

In order to support the rear portion of the main frame members 6 fromrear axle 6 a rear axle housing member I2 provides a rear support forthe longitudinal frames 6 and is attached to said axle 6' by a pair ofcollar clamps I3 secured to the housing by bolt members l4, said memberl3 being formed with upwardly projecting extensions IS, the respectiveportions being connected on opposite sides by angle members i6 securedto extensions l5 and the lower ends of the vertical channel members I!by bolts i8 adapted to support frame members 6 to which members I! arebolted or otherwise suitably secured. A strengthening member I6 ismounted on and bolted or otherwise attached to angle members 16.

Mounted in frame members 6 and vertical members I? and journaled insuitable bearings is the main drive shaft I9, and sprocket 18 attachedto clutch 2i and is adapted to rotate freely on the main drive shaft l9when the clutch is disengaged (Fig. 2), said sprocket and drive shaftbeing driven from sprocket L- of power take-off pulley I by chain 22,the clutch being of standard construction. Bolted or otherwise se curedto frame members 6 is a horizontal bracket 23 and pivotally connected tosaid bracket and the clutch member 2 5 is arm 25 for operating clutch 2|by means of toggle-link 26 connected to bracket 27 suitably mounted onframe members 6, and to operating handle 23 having pivotal connection toarm 25 for effecting operation of said clutch by toggle linkage 26 and23 to control the operation of head C by the operator.

Leading off from head unit or assembly C is a pair of pneumaticconveying tubes 29 which are connected to the flange projections 30 ofthe cotton header 34 connected to and communicating with the fan blowercasing 32. The tubes 29 are connected to the flange 3G by clamps 33, andthe header 3| is provided with an opening giving access thereto andclosed by a removable cover plate 34, said header also being providedwith a and plant shield elements being relatively ad transparentinspection window 35.

"acctgoa's Mounted on the rear ends of frame members 6 and extendingbeyond one of said members are a pair of spaced angle bars 36 secured tomembers 6 by bolts 31, and mounted between the free ends of bar 36 andsecured thereto by bolts 38 is a vertical U-shaped-like fiat anglemember 39 and similarly mounted adjacent the edge of frame members 6 isa similar member 39 secured to bars 36 by bolts 38. These bars 39 extendin parallelism downward to the bottom of casing 32 to one of which saidcasing is suitably secured; said members are also connected by andsecured to another pair of similar angle bars 36 by bolts 38 at theundersurface of members 6, Fig. 1, which rigidly brace said members, andjournaled in suitable bearings mounted in members 39 is a fan driveshaft 40 mounted in casing 32. Mounted on main drive shaft I9 is asprocket 4| and mounted on fan shaft 40 is a sprocket 42 driven by chain43 from sprocket 4|.

Extending upwardly from casing 32 is a pipe 44 on the top of which issuitably mounted a cap member 35 having a solid arcuate outwardlyextending top t6, the sides of said cap being closed by a wire meshscreen 41. The upper end of the pipe 44 is secured to the end of framemembers 6 by brace bars 18. The fan blower (not shown) contained incasing 32, as above described, is driven by main drive shaft l9 and isadapted to develop an induced draft to pneumatically convey seed-cottonfrom the collector head through tubes 29 into casing 32 and then bypressure through pipe 44 to cap member 45, said member 45 being designedto decrease the velocity of the cotton and to deflect it by means of theformation of top 46, the screen structure 41 assisting in the pressurereduction, so that the cotton will be directed into a trailer-cart orthe like having a tongue 49 connected to the usual tractor-hitch device50 as will be well understood (said cart or wagon not shown). It mightbe well to point out at this time that the broad, fiat, U-shaped-likeframe members 6 and 39 are of light weight as well as of strong tensilestrength and readily demountable with respect to each other or as a unitfrom the tractor as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

From the drawings it will be apparent that the clear vision of theoperator is unobstructed by the harvester unit B, and while only oneunit B for a single row of cotton plants is illustrated, a similar unitis adapted to be mounted on the other side of the motorized vehicle andowing to the compactness and substantial light weight of the unit, withslight modification, an additional unit may be mounted on each side ofthe first mentioned unit B. The head assembly C will now be described.

Head assembly Mounted on the forward ends of the main frame member 6 iscotton harvesting or a cottongathering head assembly C which comprises atop plate and bottom plates 52 and mounted between said plates areopposed pairs of coacting cylinder units D and E including therespective forward cylinders 53 and 54 and the respective rear cylinders55 and 56. All of the cylinders are identical and each comprises atubular portion 51 provided with spiders or disks 58 spaced inwardlyfrom its ends, mounted on its shaft and spot-welded to the shaft andcylinder as at 59 or in any suitable manner. The tubular portion 51 maybe molded or otherwise provided with a series of equi-spaced radiallyex- B tending vanes 60 of a length corresponding to the length of thetubular portion 51, or said vanes may be detachably secured to thetubular portion 51, if desired. The respective vanes are provided with aseries of equi-spaced slots 6| for a purpose directly more fullyappearing. The respective rear cylinders 55 and 56 are mounted on shafts62 and the cylinders 53 and 54 on shafts 63, the respective shafts 62and 63 being journaled in bearings 64 mounted in their bottom plates 52,the upper ends of said shafts extending through and above the top plate5|.

Overlying each of the respective units D and E and immediatelyunderlying plate 5| is a plate 65, shown in dash lines in Fig. 6, towhich the said shafts of said cylinder units are suitably secured bybearings 66 mounted therein, Fig. 4. Connecting the respective bottomplates 52 and top plate 5| are the spacer bolts 61 and similar bolts 68adapted to lock lower plates 52 and the plates 65 to upper plate 5|,said upper plate 5| being formed with slots 69 through which extend saidbolts or rods 61 and slots 10 through which extend bolts or rods 68. Thesaid plate 5| is also provided with slots 1| through which extend shafts63, all of said bolts being secured by nuts 12, the slots permitting,upon loosening said nuts, adjustment of plates 65 with respect to eachother, about shafts 62, to narrow or widen the throat 13 with respect tothe front cylinders 53 and 54 without varying the width of the cottonplant passage 14, for a purpose directly more fully appearing.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to each top plate 65 and itsunderlying bottom plate 52 is an oppositely fiairing guide shield memberterminating at its outer end in a right angle flange 16. These shieldsgather the stray branches of the cotton plants and guide them with theirbolls into the head C. In order to provide an exterior casing for thecoacting cylinder units D and E extending from the respective top plate65 to the bottom plates 52 is a sectional casing or wall structurecomprising the sections 11 and 18 bolted together as at 19 and securedwith respect to top plate 65 and bottom plates 52 by bolts 61 as tosections 11 and bolts 66 connected to sections 18 as at 80, sections 18having slip connection with the cotton collectors 8| each adapted toengage over the end of a respective pneumatic tube 29 secured by clampelement 33, Figs. 1 and 3, for receiving and delivering the cotton fromthe coacting cylinders D and E as will be hereinafter more fullyexplained. Each of the cotton-collecting or receiving members 8| isprovided with a transparent inspection window 35 adapted for removal forclean out purpose, if desired.

In order to direct the stalks and branches passing through the machineand to prevent their becoming substantially engaged with the vanes 66and between the cylinders, a series of guards 82 are designed to followthe are described by the rotatable vanes 60 and are bolted to the pieces11 by bolts 83 and are designed to engage in the slots 6| with theirsmooth exposed edges substantially coincident with the free edges of thevanes, thus permitting the bolls to extend inwardly of the guards sothat the cotton is separated therefrom or harvested by the impact of thevanes on the cotton and the air induction produced by the vanes rotatingat a predetermined R. P. M., the construction and arrangement of thecylinders and vanes being such that there is no'gripping or contactaction of the head C and locks the head in raised cotton between thevanes of the coacting cylinders whereby free flow of the 'cotton isefiected 52 as at 86 and -81, said skid plates projecting forwardlybeyond plates 52. These skid plates are adapted to present smooth, evensurfaces to minimize ground friction and to house the nuts and shaftends projecting through the bottom plates 52 as will be well understood.Mounted on top plate substantially along its 'four edges are the fourangle iron members 88 bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, andmounted on members 98 and suitably bolted thereto are the longitudinallyextending angle head members 89. Mounted on each of the frame members 6are a pair of spaced angle guide members 90 and 91 bolted or otherwisesecured to said members, members 9| extending above frame members 6, andslidably mounted between the said guides 90 and 9! are the verticalangle arm members 92. Interconnecting guides 9| are spaced pin'guards 9|for the arms 92, the lower ends of which are bolted to members 89, andjournaled through members 92 and 89 is cylinder drive shaft 93, thebearings (not shown) for which provide structural joints between saidmembers 89 and 92. Arms 92 are connected at their upper ends by anglebar 92, and pivotally connected to said members 92, as at 94, are thelinks 95, the upper ends-oi said links being pivotally connected tobell-cranks 96 pivotally attached to guide members 9!, as at 9?, andpivotally attached to bell-cranks '95 are the connecting bars 98, theopposite ends of which are connected to the operating arms 99 connectedby the handle member I96. Said arms 99 are pivotally .anchored to thevertical members H,

and the movement of said handle I09 downwardly from its position shownin Fig. 1 to .extreme lowered :position position.

Asleeve IGI is welded or otherwise secured to bracket Hi2 and thebracket Ill?! is welded or otherwisersecured to each frame member 6 andwelded or otherwisesecured to a-plate Hi3 suitably secured to cross-barsHi4 connecting the ends of the frame members 6. Extending through eachof the sleeves and springs N5 seating on said sleeves-are the rods H36on which arethreadedly mounted nuts J01 engageable with said springs.Asimilar rod I96 has its sleeve welded or otherwise secured to bracketsllia'bolted or otherwise secured to cross-bar i199 interconnecting theframe members 6, said rods I05 projecting downwardly within members .99with their lower ends similarly connected to members 88 whereby saidhead C is 'fioating'ly suspended by said rods I96 onthe springs 155,said springs supporting the weight of the head whereby .the head isenabled toride and slide over uneven rows and rocky protuberances on theground without damage thereto incident to such travel, .anda't the sametime enabling a more eflicient cottonga'thering operation.

Mounted on drive shaft 93 adjacent members effects raising of the 3cured thereon, and

mounted on shaft 63 from his position in .pear to be clear 92 are thebeveled gears H0 adapted to .mesh with beveled gears ill on shaft 62suitably seunderlying beveled gears HI are the spur gears H2 supportedby collars H3 secured to said shaft 92, Fig. v4, said spur gears H2,Fig. 4, meshing with spur gears IM, Fig. .2, driving cylinders 53 and 54as will be well understood. Mounted on the end of shaft 93 andprojecting beyond member 89 is sprocket H5 adapted to be driven from thesprocket H5 mounted on the end of main drive shaft l9 through chain Ill.Said shaft 93, as above stated, drives the coacting cotton-gatheringcylinders D and E as heretofore described,

the operation of the cotton-gathering cylinders of the head C beingcontrolled by movement of clutch member 2| b handle '28, by the operatorthe drivers seat H8 of the tractor A.

With further reference to thearrangement and construction of the head Cand its components it will be noted that each of the members 8| extendsdownwardly and outwardly as at 8! from the upper :end of the head orplate 65 to approximately the lower end of window 35 to provide adownwardly and outwardly expanding air and cotton-receiving passage oropening, disposed in a plane perpendicular to a plane passing betweenthe rotors of each pair D and E and which-is substantially normal to theplant-receiving passage F, and communicating with the pneumatic tube 29as will be well understood. It will thus be seen that this constructionprovides a free and unrestricted air and cotton path from the passage Fthrough the units D and E and to the pneumatic tubes 29.

It is further important to note that the coacting cylinders of each unitD and E are spaced to provide a relatively wide passage therebetween,and the vanes .60 of the respective cylinders are equi-spacedcorresponding to the space between the coacting cylinders, and the vanesof each cylinderare staggered or oil-set with respect to those of itscoacting cylinder so that it is impossible for the cotton to begrippingly caught between the vanes of the coacting cylinders.

Therefore, since the cylinders are revolving in opposite directions afree air and cotton path from passageway F to the respective pneumatictubes 29 is provided so that no damage to the cotton or the seeds canoccur.

While the operation of the device would apfrom th above description, itmight be well tofurtherstate that the respective pairs of rotorcylinders with their associated plant guide shields 15, may .be adjustedas .a unit with respect to each other to widen or narrow the inletplant-receiving portion or throat 13 of passage F, without affecting thewidth of the outlet passage portion at 14, by loosening nuts 12 and thenlooking said assemblies in adjusted position, in accordance withdifferent sized cotton plants or otherwise, and tightening said nuts.

When the head C is aligned with a cotton row and the clutch is inoperating position, the respective cylinder units engage opposite sidesof the plant row and the guard members 82 prevent stalks and limbs frombecoming caught and carried between the respective coacting cylinders,but the forward movement of the harvesting unit causes the bolls toextend between the guard and the rapid rotation of the vanes effectsremoval of the cotton from the bolls without damage thereto and the airinduction caused by their rapid -rotation assists inremoving the cottonand impels 9 it along the free path intermediate the coacting cylindersto the outwardly expanding cotton-receiving channels or openings fromthe head to the pneumatic conveyor mechanism G, the operation of whichassists the air induction produced by the cylinders of the pairs D andE, and the cotton is drawn into fan casing 32 and under forced pressuretherefrom to pipe 44 from which it is directed by cap member 45 into asuitable receptacle or cotton receiver (not shown) continuously duringthe forward movement of the harvesting unit. It will thus be apparentthat as the plants pass through passage F and through the head, thecotton is removed from the plant bolls by the smooth contacting edges ofthe vanes 60 and the air induction caused by the rapid rotation thereofand delivered to the receiver by free pneumatic travel without beingengaged at any time by gripping or other elements that would causedamage to the cotton or to the seeds, so that the same is delivered tothe receiver in its natural fluify and undamaged state.

It will also be noted that the head C is floatingly suspended from theframe by rods I06 and on springs I so as to automatically conform touneven ground surface formations and also it is manually adjustable byhandle I00 to raise the head over rocks or other obstructions and issusceptible of being locked in raised position so that travel from placeto place may be readily effected. It will further be apparent that thedevice B may be mounted on one or both sides of a tractor or the likeand readily demounted in a few minutes from its two-point connection sothat normal usage of the tractor is not prevented.

It will be apparent that the head C is provided with a solid top El andbottom plates 52, defining the plant passageway F, and substantiallyconforming in configuration to the upper plates 65 between which arerotatably mounted the cylinder units D and E, and which arrangement andconstruction permits the cotton plants to pass through the head and thecotton-removing operation, and still remain substantially in theiroriginal natural condition. This construction therefore tends to preventthe accumulation of trash in the removed cotton.

From the above it will be apparent that we have provided a cottonharvesting mechanism adapted to be carried by a tractor unit or thelike, said mechanism including a head yieldably mounted on and manuallyadjustable with respect to said unit, said head including means forpermitting the passage of cotton plants therethrough, said meansincluding a passage through said head, said passage embodying inlet andout let portions, the inlet portion being variable with respect to theoutlet portion, and additional means in connection with the head forremoving the cotton from said plants as they pass through said head,said additional means including pairs of cotton-removing cylinders andradially extending air induction vanes arranged and constructed toprovide a free air path through each cylinder pair and to protect thecotton and its seed from damage during its passage along said path, apneumatic air means in communication with said head adapted to deliverthe cotton therefrom to a cotton receiver, said harvesting machine beingcompact, readily mountable and demountable, simple in construction andoperation, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, and efficient for thepurposes intended.

Although in practice we have found that the form of our inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the abovedescription as the preferred embodiment, is the most emcient andpractical; yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption ofour invention will necessarily vary, we desire to emphasize that variousminor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We desire protected by LettersPatent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A cotton harvester unit, power means in connection with said unit, ahead supporting means on said unit, a cotton gathering head yieldablysuspended from said supporting means, oppositely arranged pairs ofcombined rotary impact and air induction devices mounted on said head,said pairs being relatively disposed to define a cotton plant passagewaythrough said head,

each pair including vertically disposed cylinders and radial vanesextending from said cylinders and coextensive with their length, thevanes of one of said cylinders of each pair coacting with those of itscompanion cylinder to provide a circuitous cotton path between saidvanes, mechanism for imparting rotary movement to the cylinders, meansfor effecting power transfer from said power means to said mechanism,and means for delivering the cotton from said head to a receiver.

2. A cotton harvester unit adapted to be removably attached to the sideof a tractor or the like, a power means in connection with said unit. anadjustable cotton gathering head structure yieldably suspended from saidunit, oppositely arranged pairs of combined impact and air inductiondevices mounted in said head, said devices being relatively disposed todefine a cotton plant passage therebetween, each pair of said devicesincluding vertically disposed cylinders having radial vanescoextensive'with their length, the cylinders of each pair adapted torotate in opposite directions, the vanes of each pair adapted tointeractingly extend between and in spaced relation with the vanes ofits companion cylinder to provide a circuitous path for the passage ofthe cotton, mechanism for imparting rotary movement to the cylinders ofeach pair, means for effecting power transfer from the tractor to saidhead, means for pivotally mountingthe rear cylinder of each pair, meansfor eiiecting relative adjustment of the front cylinders of said pairsto vary the area of the forward portion of said plant passage, andpneumatic means for effecting the delivery of the cotton from said headto a receiver.

3. A cotton harvester unit adapted to be attached to a tractor or thelike, a power means ends, radial vanes on said cylinders coextensivewith their length, the vanes of a cylinder of each pair interacting withthose of its companion cylinder to provide a circuitous cotton pathbetween aecmzc said vanes, mechanism for imparting rotary movement tothecylinders of each pair, means for effecting power transfer from saidpower means-to said mechanism, top and bottom plates for each pair ofcylinders, said cylinder shafts extending through and journaled to saidtop and bottom plates, a top plate for said head overlying said topplate and through which extend said shafts, said opposed devices adaptedto define a plant passage therebetween, means for effecting relativeadjustment of the forward cylinders of each pair laterally towards eachother to vary the forward area of said plant passage without alteringthe spacing of the rear cylinder of each pair and pneumatic means fordelivering the cotton from said head to a receiver.

4'. A cotton harvester unit, a power means in connection with saidunit,a head supporting means on said unit, a cotton gathering head floatinglysuspended from said supporting means, oppositely arranged pairs ofcombined rotary impact and air induction devicesmounted in said. head,said pairs being relatively disposed to define a cotton plant passagewaytherebetween, each pair including vertically disposed cylinders and:radial vanes extending from said cylinders and: coextensive with theirlength, the vanes of one. of said cylinders of each pair coacting withthose of its companion cylinder toprovide a circuitous air and cottonpath between said vanes, mechanism for imparting rotary movement to thecylinders of each pair, means for effecting power transfer fromsaidpower means to said mechanism, exterior casing means for saiddevices, means in connection with said casing means forming expandingair and cotton receiving openings. extending: in a vertical planepassing between the cylinders of each pair and substantially normal tosaid plant passage, a pneumatic means in communication with saidopenings for delivering the cotton from said head to a receiver.

5; A. cotton harvester unit including a power means, said unit adaptedto be attached to the side of a tractor orth like and including a headsupporting frame, a cotton gathering headfioatingly suspended from saidsupporting means, oppositely arranged pairs of combined rotary impactand air induction devices mounted in said head, said pairs beingrelatively disposed to define a cotton plant passageway therebetween,each. pair including vertically disposed cylinders and radial vanesextending from said cylinders and: coextensive with their length, thevanes of 12 one of said cylinders Of each pair coacting with thoseof'its companion cylinder'toprovide a circuitous air and cotton pathbetween said vanes, mechanism for imparting rotary movement to thecylinders of each pair, means for effecting power transfer from saidpower means to said mechanism, shafts for the cylinders of said devices,top and bottom plates for said devices, said cylinder shafts havingjournaled connection with said plates, the shafts of the opposed rearcylinders serve as pivots for said devices, means for laterallyadjusting the opposed front cylinders to vary the area of the forwardportion of said plant passage; guard means coacting with the vanes ofsaid pairs of cylinders engageable with the cotton plants passingthrough said passage, and means for delivering the cotton from said headto a receiver.

6. A cotton harvester unit, a power plant in connection with said unit,a vertically movable head, pairs of cylinders rotatably mountedwithinthe head, one pair of cylinders beingarranged on each side of aplant. passage through the head, each pair of cylinders having radiallyextending vanes, said vanes being coextensive in length with that of thecylinders, the vanes of each pair of cylinders projecting between thoseof the adjacent cylinders. to form a, circuitous path therebetween, soasv to permit the passage therethrough of the cotton without injury,mechanism for imparting rotary movement to each pair thereof so that thecylinders of each pair rotate in opposite direction, means fortransferring power from said powerplant to said mechanism, and meansfor-laterally'adjusting the forward cylinder of each pair thereof towardeach other so as to vary the width of the plant. passage, and suctionmeans in connection with the. opposite sides of the head and cooperatingwith each pair of said cylinders to efiect delivery of the cotton as itpasses from said head. to a receiver.

RILEY E. ELLIS. JOSEPH A. ASHKOUTI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date ,132,102 Lee Mar, 16, 1915 1,172,665 Beebe et al Feb. 22, 19161,755,507 Janacek Apr. 22, 1930 1,930,767 Neil Oct. 17, 1933

